Joint Supplements Arthritis and degenerative joint disease are common problems in performance horses. They can often be managed with joint supplements that allow a horse to continue a useful athletic career. These can be administered topically, orally, intramuscularly, intravenously or intra-articularly (directly into the joint).
Common oral supplements include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and avocado soybean unsaponifiable extracts (ASU). Limited studies have been done on orally administered joint supplements, but the data suggest they may be helpful in controlling and even protecting against certain joint problems.
Back to Horse Health Glossary
Back to Equine Nutrition A to Z
This article originally appeared in the 2010 issue of Horses USA. Click here to purchase a copy.
Holly Caccamise has been with Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines since 2007, and in 2019, she became Editor in Chief of both titles. Caccamise has a master's degree in Animal Science with a specialization in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She has also worked as a racing magazine ad copywriter and top-level show groom.
It's often what you can’t see that leads to trouble, and that’s definitely the case…
Equine ulcers are a significant concern for many horse owners. Ulcers can affect all types…
Consuming sand is not ideal for equine digestion because sand irritates and inflames the intestinal…
Sarcoids can be scary. These tumors can show up anywhere on a horse’s body and…
It's often what you can’t see that leads to trouble, and that’s definitely the case with white line disease. Understanding…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
Two hours’ drive from Budapest in the picturesque Bükk National Park lies Szilvásvárad, a beautiful little village that is home…
During the height of the pandemic and racial tension around the U.S., two boys struggling with ADHD found healing through…
When you think of the term “companion horse,” one that is versatile with the ability to fill a variety of…
Each year, hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms force thousands across the country to evacuate their homes. When preparing for a…